The Use of Nuclear Medicine in Detecting and Treating Mental Health Diseases

Mental health disorders affect over 792 million people around the world, and a leading cause for disability. Mental health disorders include a plethora of conditions that affect mood, thinking and behavior, including but not limited to, depression, dementia, anxiety, autism, and schizophrenia. The most common method of diagnosis is a psychological evaluation, which can lack accuracy if performed as the only method of diagnosis. Nuclear Medicine helps aid in diagnosis of these disorders in conjunction with psychological testing. Brain scans can help determine if there is a pathogenic cause for the symptoms. Brain scans are done utilizing Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans and Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography (SPECT) scans. Advancements in these studies allow Nuclear Medicine to better aid in diagnosis and treatments of this wide range of disorders. Keywords: Nuclear Medicine, PET, SPECT, mental illness, diagnose, treatment, mental health.https://digitalcommons.misericordia.edu/medimg_seniorposters/1035/thumbnail.jp

The Winthrop College Farm: Nutrition, Nourishment, and Knowledge

The Farm was a part of Winthrop from 1895 to 1957. Designed to supply food for the College, it also provided an observational classroom for students, and interaction with the community through surplus sales. A brief history of the farm will be presented and a panel will discuss the farm\u27s impact on the Winthrop and Rock Hill communities

Interleukin-17+CD8+T Cells Are Enriched in the Joints of Patients With Psoriatic Arthritis and Correlate With Disease Activity and Joint Damage Progression

OBJECTIVE: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is associated with HLA class I genes, in contrast to the association with HLA class II in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Since IL-17+ cells are considered important mediators of synovial inflammation, we sought to determine whether IL-17–producing CD8+ T cells may be found in the joints of patients with PsA and whether these cells might contribute to the disease process. METHODS: Mononuclear cells from paired samples of synovial fluid (SF) and peripheral blood (PB) from patients with PsA or patients with RA were stimulated ex vivo, and CD4− T cells were examined by flow cytometry for cytokine expression, cytotoxic markers, and frequencies of γ/δ or mucosal-associated invariant T cells. Clinical measures of arthritis activity (C-reactive protein [CRP] level, erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR], Disease Activity Score in 28 joints [DAS28]) and power Doppler ultrasound (PDUS) scores for the presence of active synovitis in the aspirated knee were recorded and assessed for correlations with immunologic markers. RESULTS: Within the CD3+ T cell compartment, both IL-17+CD4− (predominantly CD8+) and IL-17+CD4+ T cells were significantly enhanced in the SF compared to the PB of patients with PsA (P = 0.0003 and P = 0.002, respectively; n = 21), whereas in patients with RA, only IL-17+CD4+ T cells were increased in the SF compared to the PB (P = 0.008; n = 14). The frequency of IL-17+CD4− T cells in PsA SF was positively correlated with the CRP level (r = 0.52, P = 0.01), ESR (r = 0.59, P = 0.004), and DAS28 (r = 0.52, P = 0.01), and was increased in patients with erosive disease (P < 0.05). In addition, the frequency of IL-17+CD4− T cells positively correlated with the PDUS score, a marker for active synovitis (r = 0.49, P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: These results show, for the first time, that the PsA joint, but not the RA joint, is enriched for IL-17+CD8+ T cells. Moreover, the findings reveal that the levels of this T cell subset are correlated with disease activity measures and the radiographic erosion status after 2 years, suggesting a previously unrecognized contribution of these cells to the pathogenesis of PsA

Influence of Cultural, Organizational, and Automation Capability on Human Automation Trust: A Case Study of Auto-GCAS Experimental Test Pilots

This paper discusses a case study that examined the influence of cultural, organizational and automation capability upon human trust in, and reliance on, automation. In particular, this paper focuses on the design and application of an extended case study methodology, and on the foundational lessons revealed by it. Experimental test pilots involved in the research and development of the US Air Force's newly developed Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System served as the context for this examination. An eclectic, multi-pronged approach was designed to conduct this case study, and proved effective in addressing the challenges associated with the case's politically sensitive and military environment. Key results indicate that the system design was in alignment with pilot culture and organizational mission, indicating the potential for appropriate trust development in operational pilots. These include the low-vulnerability/ high risk nature of the pilot profession, automation transparency and suspicion, system reputation, and the setup of and communications among organizations involved in the system development

The pathology of chronic Drechslera campanulata toxicosis in inbred rats

Cultures on autoclaved maize of the phytopathogenic fungus, Drechslera campanulata, were incorporated into diets and fed to male inbred BDIX rats. In a pilot trial, a diet containing 30% D. campanulata culture material killed 5 out of 5 rats in 15-25 days. Lesions included gastric corpus erosions, gastrorrhagia and ulcerative typhlitis. Diets containing 5 % or 10 % culture material induced erosive to ulcerative typhlitis and oedema and hyperplasia of the ileocaecal lymph nodes in 40 out of 40 rats. Other changes included: mass loss; normocytic, hyperchromic anaemia; leukocytosis with neutrophilia; reductions in plasma proteins, creatinine, calcium and cholesterol; elevated serum enzymes; hepatosis, nephrosis and mycoplasma-like interstitial pneumoma. No lesions were present in control rats, and their profiles were normal. Ulcerative typhlitis induced by D. campanulata in rats resembles that seen in chronic piperonyl butoxide intoxication as well as that due to single treatments of indomethacid, although small intestinal ulcers are more frequent in the latter. Overgrowth of intestinal flora may be involved in ulcer pathogenesis. The pathology of drechsleratoxicosis in rats is compared to that in sheep and goats where necrotic lesions in the forestomach and, to a lesser extent, in the caecum are characteristic findings.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 600dpi. Adobe Acrobat XI Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format.lmchunu2014mn201

Indicators of paramedic service use by community dwelling older adults

Introduction:  Home care clients represent a patient group that may be served through community paramedicine (CP) programs.  The Detection of Indicators and Vulnerabilities for Emergency Room Trips (DIVERT) scale was recently validated to identify levels of risk for use of emergency care among this population.  This study investigates whether frail home care clients that were identified as being at higher risk based on their DIVERT scores were more likely to use paramedic services to access the emergency department within 90 days of assessment when compared to clients that had lower DIVERT scores.Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using regularly collected administrative data.  Home care assessment data were supplemented with data on emergency department (ED) visits.  Arrival by ambulance was modelled to control for DIVERT scores as well as several social and demographic variables.Results:  Within the cohort, approximately 40% of individuals visited an ED within 90 days of a home care assessment and almost half of all individuals visited an ED more than once within a year.  About two-thirds of clients that visited an ED in the 90 days following assessment used an ambulance for transportation.  DIVERT scores were predictive of this use with highest scores indicating 4.15 times higher odds of paramedic service use (95% CI 3.60-4.78Conclusion:  DIVERT was not developed to consider means of transportation to the ED.  The results indicate that it can be used to identify frail community dwelling older adults that are likely to use paramedic services to take them to the ED.  Further investigation of aspects of social isolation, carer resiliency, time of use, and characteristics associated with ED discharge are warranted.  Frequent ambulance use among this population suggests that collaboration between care providers may provide opportunities to prevent unnecessary ED visits by these individuals

'This isn't what mine looked like': a qualitative study of symptom appraisal and help seeking in people recently diagnosed with melanoma.

OBJECTIVE: To explore symptom appraisal and help-seeking decisions among patients recently diagnosed with melanomas, and to compare experiences of people with 'thinner' (2 mm) melanomas, as thickness at diagnosis is an important prognostic feature. METHODS: In-depth interviews with patients within 10 weeks of melanoma diagnosis explored the factors impacting on their pathways to diagnosis. Framework analysis, underpinned by the Model of Pathways to Treatment, was used to explore the data with particular focus on patients' beliefs and experiences, disease factors, and healthcare professional (HCP) influences. RESULTS: 63 patients were interviewed (29-93 years, 31 women, 30 thicker melanomas). All described their skin changes using rich lay vocabulary. Many included unassuming features such as 'just a little spot' as well as common features of changes in size, colour and shape. There appeared to be subtly different patterns of symptoms: descriptions of vertical growth, bleeding, oozing and itch were features of thicker melanomas irrespective of pathological type. Appraisal was influenced by explanations such as normal life changes, prior beliefs and whether skin changes matched known melanoma descriptions. Most decisions to seek help were triggered by common factors such as advice from family and friends. 11 patients reported previous reassurance about their skin changes by a HCP, with little guidance on monitoring change or when it would be appropriate to re-consult. CONCLUSIONS: Patients diagnosed with both thinner and thicker melanomas often did not initially recognise or interpret their skin changes as warning signs or prompts to seek timely medical attention. The findings provide guidance for melanoma awareness campaigns on more appropriate images, helpful descriptive language and the need to stress the often apparently innocuous nature of potentially serious skin changes. The importance of appropriate advice, monitoring and safety-netting procedures by HCPs for people presenting with skin changes is also highlighted.Thanks to our funding organisation the National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative (NAEDI), and to their funding partners: Cancer Research UK; Department of Health, England; Economic and Social Research Council; Health and Social Care Research and Development Division; Public Health Agency, Northern Ireland, National Institute for Social Care and Health Research, Wales and the Scottish Government. All researchers were independent of the funding body and the study sponsors and funder had no role in study design; data collection, analysis and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; or decision to submit the article for publication. FW was supported by an NIHR Clinical Lectureship followed by a NIHR Clinician Scientist award at the time of this study. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the National Institute for Health Research or the Department of Health.This is the final published version. It's also available from BMJ Open at http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/4/7/e005566.abstract

An analysis of Liberia's 2007 national health policy: lessons for health systems strengthening and chronic disease care in poor, post-conflict countries

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Globally, chronic diseases are responsible for an enormous burden of deaths, disability, and economic loss, yet little is known about the optimal health sector response to chronic diseases in poor, post-conflict countries. Liberia's experience in strengthening health systems and health financing overall, and addressing HIV/AIDS and mental health in particular, provides a relevant case study for international stakeholders and policymakers in other poor, post-conflict countries seeking to understand and prioritize the global response to chronic diseases.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We conducted a historical review of Liberia's post-conflict policies and their impact on general economic and health indicators, as well as on health systems strengthening and chronic disease care and treatment. Key sources included primary documents from Liberia's Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, published and gray literature, and personal communications from key stakeholders engaged in Liberia's Health Sector Reform. In this case study, we examine the early reconstruction of Liberia's health care system from the end of conflict in 2003 to the present time, highlight challenges and lessons learned from this initial experience, and describe future directions for health systems strengthening and chronic disease care and treatment in Liberia.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Six key lessons emerge from this analysis: (i) the 2007 National Health Policy's 'one size fits all' approach met aggregate planning targets but resulted in significant gaps and inefficiencies throughout the system; (ii) the innovative Health Sector Pool Fund proved to be an effective financing mechanism to recruit and align health actors with the 2007 National Health Policy; (iii) a substantial rural health delivery gap remains, but it could be bridged with a robust cadre of community health workers integrated into the primary health care system; (iv) effective strategies for HIV/AIDS care in other settings should be validated in Liberia and adapted for use in other chronic diseases; (v) mental health disorders are extremely prevalent in Liberia and should remain a top chronic disease priority; and (vi) better information systems and data management are needed at all levels of the health system.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The way forward for chronic diseases in Liberia will require an increased emphasis on quality over quantity, better data management to inform rational health sector planning, corrective mechanisms to more efficiently align health infrastructure and personnel with existing needs, and innovative methods to improve long-term retention in care and bridge the rural health delivery gap.</p